Vehicle bow support and fastener.



'P. BROADBOOKS.

VEHICLE BOW SUPPORT AND FASTENER.

APPLIGATION FILED AUG.12,1912.

Patented Feb. 2, 1915.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

i 5140034 toz Peterfimad 000/06 Witnesses P. BROADBOOKS.

VEHIGLE BOW SUPPORT AND PASTE-NEE.

APPLIUATION FILED AUG. 12, 1912.

ted Feb. 2, 1915.

Paten t SHEETSSHEBT 2.

- ()FFICE.

PETER BROADBOOKS, OF BATAVIA, NEW YORK.

VEHICLE BOW SUPPORT AND FASTENER.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Feb. 2, 1915.

Application filed August 12, 1912. Serial No. 714,724.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, PETER Bnoamsoons, ofBatavia, in the county of Genesee and State of New-"York, have inventedcertain new and useful Improvements in Vehicle Bow Supports andFasteners; and I hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, andexact description thereof, reference being had to the accompanyingdrawings, which form part of this specification.

This invention is a novel means for bind ing together the bows offolding vehicle tops when folded, and its objects are to lock the bowsto the props of an automobile top by novel mechanical devices, in placeof the leather straps andbuckles now in general use; thereby doing awaywith the coiling up of such straps and enhancing the appearance ofthetop, both when it is extended and when it is folded upon the props; alsoto secure the bows to the props with greater convenience than by bindingwith leather straps; to hold the top when folded more rigid and safelythan can be done with the leather straps as now used.

The invention further rovides bow supports that act in conjunction withthe binding device to more securely hold the bows.

I will explain the invention in detail with reference to theaccompanying drawings in which I have illustrated the invention embodiedin several equivalent constructions.

In said drawings-Figure 1 represents a side elevation of a foldable topor cover; of a vehicle extended. said top being equipped with myinvention; and showingthc preferred arrangement of the tie w en not inuse in full lines. Fig. 2 is a similar view with the top folded andlocked. Fig. 3 is an enlarged sectional view on line 33, Fig. 2. Fig. 4is a section similar to Fig. 3, illustrating a modified construction ofthe parts. Fig. 5 shows the tie rod formed with right and left handthreads, engaging the heads. Fig; 6 is a detail showing how the tie maybe attached to a bow when not in use. Fig. 7 illustrates howia strap maybe used as a tie. Fig. 8jshows how the tie may be connected with thecollar on the prop.

In the drawings 1, 1, 1*, 1, designate the bows of a folding vehicle topwhich may be As shown the rear bow l is pivotally connected to the ad ofany suitable construction.

otally connected to the' adjacent bow 1". The particular construction ofthe top and acent bow 1*; and the front how 1 s piv its bows do not formany part of my present invention; when the top is extended the bows areseparated and ivhen the top is closed the bows are brought closetogether substantially as indicated in Fig. 2; and are usually supportedon a suitable prop or arm 2 attached to the-vehicle, which supportingarm may be of any suitable construction.

In order to hold the bows securely together when the top is folded andto prevent rattling thereof I rovidethem with novel tying and anysuitable supporting devices.

Attached, preferably, to the uppermost or front bow 1 is a. tie retainersocket piece 3 (Fig. 3) which may be formed and connected with theuppermost socket piece I)? as indicatedin Fig. 4, and secured therewithto the bow 1 by suitable screws as shown. The socket piece 3 is providedwith an opening adapted to receive a stud 4 having a head 4, which isshown in Fig. 3 as rigidly connected to a rod section 4". This stud 4may be provided with an annular groove 4 adapted to be engaged by oneend of a screw 3 tapped through the socket piece 3 so as to retain thestud 4 in the socket and atthe same time permit it to turn. The free endof rod 4* is threaded and engaged with one end of a turnbuckle 4 and theother end of said turnbuckle is engaged with the oppositely threaded endofa rod P which isattached at its other end to-the head l' of a stud 4*which is adapted to enter a corresponding socket 2 in the end of thesupport 2 (Fig. 3) when the top i's folded and may be detachably securedin said socket by means of a cotter orvsplit pin 2, the stud 4 and propbeing perforated for the passage of said pin as indicated in thedrawings. The rods 4:", 4 and buckle 4 form a tie and will, when in theposition shown in Fig.- 3, hold the bows of the folded top securelytogether.

'When the top *isto be extended, pin 2 is withdrawn so as to permit thehead 4' to be disengaged from the socket 4 then the top isopened and thebows separated as shown 1 with an auxiliary tie retainer or socket piece5, (see Figs. 1 and 2) with which the stud 4 may be engaged and in whichit can be retained by the same cotter pin 2; and

instead of the collar (1 shown in Figs.

- socket pieces justable sectional tie rod in Fig. 3. The tie rod 4c hasits ends inserted through openings in the heads 4" of the studs, and maybe secured thereto by set screws 2*; the upper head l 'may be secured tothe socket piece 3- by. a screw 3 andthe lower head 4 mayejbedetaehabl-y connected to the socket iedexi by pin 2 as in Fig. 3. InFig.

1-3, have a collar a provided with a concave re'sta on which the lowerbow 1 is supported.

In Fig. 5 I show a tie rod 4 connected to the heads 4 by means ofopposite threaded portions engaging suitable threaded openings in saidheads 4; which heads are provided with studs 4* and 4 to engage the 3.and 2* as described.

In Fig. 7 I show a tie strap employed in place of a rod to connect theheads 4 and P. In this construction the heads 4 and Al may be providedwith eyes 4" and 4" through which the strap S is passed.

.It is obvious that any suitable tie device may beemployed, but I preferto use a rod for tying the bows to the prop, as it-can be made moreeasily adjustable, and has a -more symmetrical appearance. It is alsoobvious that other suitable means may be employed for detachablyconnecting the tie to the prop, or to the bows.

The principal feature of the invention is a detachable swiveled -tieconnection which to such bow; the

can be carried wholly by one of the bows when the top is up. In thismanner the props are freed ,from any ties or stra s while the top is inan upright position. it is obvious that the invention may be madeequally operative by swiveling the tie to the rear 'bow intermediate itsends, as shown at 7 in Fig. 1. v

As shown in Fig. 8 the tie head 4 may be connected with a socket piece aonthecollar a instead of to the prop direct.

What I claim is:

1. In combination with a foldin top, and a support for said to when foled';' atie having one end pivota 1 attached to one of the bows of thetop, and an auxiliary device attached to the same bow adapted to be de-'tachably engaged by theiree end of said tie when the top is extended tohold the tie thereagainst and parallel with said bow with, means for.detachably attaching the free end of said tie to said support-when thetop is folded. substantially as described. d

a prop, for the bows when'folded; o a tie pivotally connected to theupper part of a bow of the top ;'an auxiliary device attached free endof said tie. being to be 'detacha-bly attachedto 'said 2. In combinationwith a folding top,

adapted auxiliary the bow when the top is extended; with devices on saidrop adapted to be-also en'- gaged by the rec end of said tie when thetop is folded to hold the bows in folded position, substantially asdescribed.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as i my own, I afi'ix mysignature in presence of two witnesses. Y

PETER BROADBOOKS. Witnesses:

R. K. CORY, EARLE B. PERRY.

device to hold the tie parallel with

